Freelance linguists are responsible for their own training. Yet, CSA Research observes in interactions and research with language service providers that LSPs have a crucial role in developing freelancers’ skill – and they usually do so without charging them for it. In this brief, we explore: the strategic reasons why LSPs train their linguist supply chain; the methods they use to cultivate the skills of their current vendors; internship opportunities they deploy to develop new talent; and what LSPs can do to further develop the supply chain of the future.